Local government units (LGUs) in Metro Manila were urged to come up with ordinances penalizing individuals who would be found carrying out unauthorized inoculations using government-procured COVID-19 vaccines as booster shots.
This came after reports that some persons are getting inoculated using the government resources, which, according to Metropolitan Manila Development Authority (MMDA) Chairman Benhur Abalos, is prohibited under the Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) issued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for COVID-19 vaccines.
“Let me reiterate that the national government does not allow 'booster' vaccinations as of today. Hence, misrepresentation of vaccine status is strongly prohibited,” Abalos said.
"All individuals such as, but not limited to vaccinators, vaccinees, and facilitators who are found to be responsible for such act should be held accountable, based on existing laws, ordinances, rules and regulations," he added.
Through MMDA Resolution No. 21-18, Abalos stressed that this is "in violation of the National Immunization Program and the EUA and thus detrimental to the unvaccinated Filipinos and thereby unnecessarily delaying the realization of population protection."
“The Department of Health (DOH) does not recommend booster shots in view of the quantity of vaccine supply relative to the number of persons in the priority sectors and its subgroups as well as the lack of scientific evidence that a booster is necessary for full protection against the coronavirus,” the resolution stated.
The MMDA chief, who is also the concurrent chair of the Metro Manila Council (MMC) also asked LGUs to require the vaccinees to declare in a patient/vaccination form that he/she has not yet been fully-vaccinated for COVID-19 prior to vaccination.
The resolution was unanimously approved by all the local chief executives of Metro Manila on August 13.
The MMC, composed of the 17 Metro Manila mayors, is the governing and policy-making body of the MMDA.